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U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Review of the Benghazi Attacks

Core Content

The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) conducted a detailed review of the terrorist attacks on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11-12, 2012. The report was submitted on January 15, 2014, and includes both the declassified version and unclassified Additional Views. The review focuses on the Intelligence Community (IC) analysis and actions leading up to, during, and after the attacks, as well as the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of State (State) responses.

Main Points

1. Committee Composition and Oversight

• The Select Committee on Intelligence was chaired by Senator Dianne Feinstein and included several other members.
• The Committee had ex officio members from the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
• The Committee's review was based on extensive hearings, briefings, and meetings, including interviews with U.S. personnel on the ground during the attacks.

2. Timeline and Nature of the Attacks

The attacks occurred in three distinct phases over a short period:

Attack on the U.S. Temporary Mission Facility (TMF)

• Time: Approximately 9:40 p.m. Benghazi time.
• Description: Attackers easily entered the compound by scaling the front vehicle gate. They set fire to the Libyan militia barracks and moved freely through the facility.
• Response: DS agents activated the Imminent Danger Notification System and alerted the CIA Annex, Libyan militias, and the Embassy in Tripoli.
• Outcome: The DS agents did not fire any weapons during the attack. The compound was eventually evacuated, with the Ambassador missing.

Attack on the CIA Annex

• Time: Approximately 11:56 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Benghazi time.
• Description: The Annex was targeted by sporadic arms fire and RPGs. The security team returned fire, and the attackers dispersed.
• Outcome: The team focused on locating the missing Ambassador and assessing the security situation at the Benghazi Medical Center, but later decided to evacuate to the Annex due to perceived risks.

Third Attack on the CIA Annex

• Time: Approximately 5:15 a.m. Benghazi time.
• Description: Mortar rounds hit the Annex, killing two security officers and seriously injuring others.
• Outcome: The Annex was evacuated, and the Ambassador's body was transported to the airport.

3. Security and Intelligence Failures

• Finding #1: The IC issued numerous strategic warnings about the deteriorating security situation in eastern Libya and the risk to U.S. facilities and personnel in Benghazi.
• Finding #2: The State Department failed to significantly increase its security posture in Benghazi, despite multiple intelligence reports and prior attacks on Westerners in the area.
• Key Incidents:
  • April 6, 2012: A "fish bomb" was thrown over the TMF’s north wall.
  • June 6, 2012: An IED attack on the TMF caused significant damage.
  • May 22, 2012: The ICRC building in Benghazi was attacked with RPGs.
  • June 11, 2012: A British diplomatic convoy was attacked in Benghazi.
  • August 1, 2012: The former regime military intelligence building in Benghazi was bombed.
• These incidents were reported in finished intelligence products, but the State Department did not adequately respond to the threats.

4. Intelligence Community Role

• The IC provided hundreds of analytic reports and intelligence products highlighting the growing threat from al-Qa'ida and affiliated groups in Libya.
• These reports included assessments of the increasing terrorist presence in eastern Libya and the likelihood of more attacks.
• The Committee found that the IC had warned of the possibility of attacks on U.S. personnel in Benghazi, but the State Department did not fully heed these warnings.

5. Recommendations

• The report emphasizes the need for improved security measures for U.S. personnel in high-risk locations.
• It calls for better coordination between the IC and the State Department to ensure that intelligence assessments are effectively translated into actionable security policies.
• The report also highlights the importance of addressing the security challenges posed by the presence of terrorist groups in Libya and the need for a more robust intelligence and security infrastructure.

Key Information

• The attacks were carried out by multiple groups, including al-Qa'ida affiliates and local militias.
• The security response involved both local and U.S. personnel, with the CIA and DS agents playing a central role in the evacuation and protection of U.S. personnel.
• The classified version of the report was available for review in secure spaces, while the declassified version and Additional Views were made public.
• The report includes detailed accounts of the sequence of events, security measures, and the decisions made by various officials during the attacks.

Conclusion

The SSCI report underscores the critical importance of intelligence sharing and the need for improved security protocols in high-risk environments. It serves as a comprehensive review of the events in Benghazi and highlights the vulnerabilities that led to the tragic loss of American lives. The report also aims to inform future policy and operational decisions to prevent similar incidents.